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U.S. Open Cup: 1988-2012

By Ted Westervelt May 27, 2013 4:39 pmMay 27, 2013 4:39 pm

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The fourth and final installment in the history of the U.S. Open Cup.

The 1920s featured a running battle between professional leagues and the U.S. Open Cup. More than once, top American Soccer League teams chose not to participate. It became clear that when the best clubs did not participate interest in the competition flagged.

When big-league teams turned their backs on the Cup again in the 1960s, it was no coincidence that U.S. supporters and the news media followed. Pelé played his first game for the New York Cosmos on the same day as the 1975 U.S. Open Cup final, June 15. Between that day and the launching of Major League Soccer, it was nearly impossible to find coverage of the tournament in newspapers — forget about TV. North American Soccer League teams simply did not take the Open Cup seriously and declined to participate.

When M.L.S. teams recognized the cache of the Cup, the contrast was dramatic. In the early ’90s the U.S. soccer pyramid was, shall we say, fluid. Despite efforts by the federation president, Werner Fricker, the Cup was still dominated by an array of smaller clubs. Virtual pub teams won it twice. Crowds for the final crowds bumped along at unpublished lows.

Newspapers hardly wasted a drop of ink. With the advent of a number of cable channels interested in soccer, not to mention a berth in the Concacaf Champions League to the winner (and a shot at playing in the FIFA Club World Cup), M.L.S. teams were all-in and the reborn Seattle Sounders shattered Open Cup attendance records that stood since the 1920s.

Upsets in cup competitions the world over are the mother’s milk of tournaments, and the U.S. Open Cup is no different. While M.L.S. teams have failed to win the competition only once since 1996, lower-division clubs have often scored upsets, especially in earlier rounds when M.L.S. clubs have often played lineups composed of reserves and rested their usual starters. Clubs like Dallas Roma, Cal F.C., the Chicago Stingers, the Milwaukee Rampage and the Minnesota Thunder have enjoyed suprising runs.

M.L.S. teams enter the 100th edition of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday. The Cup has never been better. Interest has never been more widespread. Expect more surprises.

Ted Westervelt spent 15 years in politics before he began to passionately promote American soccer history, promotion and relegation, and independence for U.S. clubs. Follow him on Twitter.

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